With summer, or at least the promise of it, come barbecues and lighter food, and these are our favorite barbecue recipes. But we haven't just created a menu of grilled meats – there are delicious vegetarian dishes, sides, and even a smoky dessert and cocktail.
The trick to cooking on the grill is to make sure your coals are uniformly white hot, without a trace of flame, before you add the food. And get all your barbecue essentials sorted in advance, of course.
By all means watch the food carefully to ensure it doesn’t scorch, but resist the temptation to turn it too often; fish, especially, will stick to the grill if fussed over. Bon appetit!
Home-smoked seasoning
This home-smoked seasoning recipe is perfect for most meat, fish and vegetarian dishes. Ideal for grill-outs, it can be used to give depth of flavor even when it's too chilly outdoors to crack open the BBQ.
Vegetarian mezze with baba ganoush and salsa
This vegetarian meze is packed with flavor thanks to the baba ganoush and salsa, their ingredients prepped on the grill. Serve with our garlic and herb flatbreads and raw crudités.
Best-ever grilled lamb
Our best-ever grilled lamb recipe is a cracker. Marinated overnight for best results, it's wonderful served up with our bulgar wheat salad, below.
Bulgur wheat salad
Quick, easy and packed with goodness, this bulgur wheat salad is flavored with fresh herbs. Pair it with our grilled lamb recipe (above).
Smoky chicken with chipotle
Smoky, spicy and a little sweet, this chipotle chicken recipe will bring a Mexican flavor to your barbecue recipe list. Serve it with rice, salad, in burritos, tacos... the choice is endless!
Stuffed peppers with harissa yoghurt
Looking for grill recipes for vegetarians? Or just a filling, fabulous side for a hungry crowd? This stuffed pepper with harissa yogurt is our favorite.
Griddled zucchini and halloumi salad
This zucchini with halloumi is griddled for extra flavor. Serve it up hot, warm or at room temperature – it works every way! It's the perfect side for barbecue recipes, or a tasty main for veggies.
Lapsang souchong ice cream
Smoky, sweet and oh, so refreshing, this lapsang souchong and green mint ice cream is a dessert with a difference. Serve it up at a barbecue to keep those flavors coming!
Maltito cocktail
Love a Mojito? You'll adore our Maltito cocktail recipe. Smokier, grown up, and very elegant, it's the perfect drink to serve to complement a barbecue menu.
-
Hypochlorous acid cleaning – 5 smart ways to use this ‘high impact, low risk’ cleaning essential that's as gentle as salineIt’s one of the most powerful non-toxic disinfectants, experts claim
-
‘It’s much harder than it looks' – explore a Minneapolis new build home that feels like it's stood in place for centuriesThe design team behind this brand new build was tasked with crafting a classic home from the ground up, and the result proves a house doesn't have to be ancient to have tons of character
-
Summer lunch never looked so good – these simple yet satisfying recipes are all you need for hosting a celebratory gatheringThese recipes, including a firepit salmon and a show-stopping meringue stack with summer berries, are all you need for celebratory hosting this season
-
Gin and tonic, but make it special – we're loving this summery twist on this classic drinkMaking your own flavored syrup is far easier than you think, and this one with zesty lemon and aromatic rosemary is a lovely way to enhance a G&T for special occasions
-
Bored of fruit salad? Try this savory, aromatic twist with nectarines, and it will become one of your favorite summer dishesHerbs and spices bring the seasonal fruit to life in this wonderful ginger nectarine dish, which is perfect paired with grilled meats
-
I serve this vibrant mezze marvel at all my summer get-togethers – it's so colorful and cheerful on the plateThis simple Middle Eastern-inspired recipe is one of my favorite mezze dishes as it's eye-catching, sweet and earthy
-
'Grilling beans is the perfect halfway point between too soft and too al dente' – this side dish is packed with flavor and crunchSalty, zesty and just a little crunchy, this grilled bean recipe with lemon and feta is wonderful to share with friends on a summer's evening
-
Sweet, sticky and herbaceous, this side dish is a symphony of Middle Eastern flavorsThese pan-fried tomatoes with za'atar, pine nuts, and halloumi are exactly what we want right now for summer feasting
-
This seasonal showstopper is perfect for feeding a crowd for a celebration or just because – it's easy enough to whip up whenever you fancyIf you're celebrating the 4th of July with a gathering at home, make this meringue stack with summer berries for a nod to the red, white, and blue theme
-
Tangy, crunchy, vibrant, and creamy, this recipe is a masterclass in color, texture, and flavor for summer entertainingTangy, crunchy, vibrant, and creamy, this recipe involves making your own ricotta – which is easier than you think – and makes a wonderfully summery side
